Sell Mini-14 stainless to buy SU-16CA?

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ArmedBear

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Someone wants my Mini-14. It's stainless/synthetic, and I really like it. It's been reliable as hell, and it's a great little carbine.

(If I want to hit small bullseyes at long distances, I have a rifle with an accuracy guarantee and a big scope. I don't care that the iron-sighted Mini doesn't shoot MOA when I plink, even at 200 yards. So don't bother telling me that the Mini isn't a match rifle: that's not what I want from it, or a Kel-Tec.)

The one real issue is magazines. The SU takes AR mags, which are readily available and they tend to work, unlike some aftermarket Mini magazines. Note that I live in California, which has a 10-round limit for mags sold or transferred. I have some old AR mags already, though. Been in a box in the garage since before the CA ban.

The folding stock is a neat feature, as well, since I have a Jeep and the SU could be stashed better when I'm parked.

Anyway, my gut feeling says that the SU, while it's a really neat package, isn't quite the gun that the Mini is, in terms of beat-it-to-hell-and-it-keeps-shooting. And the Mini is stainless. Parkerized is good, but matte stainless is better, if I want a gun that I don't have to baby. There again, I have high-maint blue/walnut guns to clean, oil and admire; this thing I want to be low-maint.

Would you sell a stainless Mini-14 Ranch Rifle and buy an SU? I'll have to throw in $200 myself, when all's said and done. But I'll have grandfathered magazines for it.
 
I don't think I would, no.

For one of the funky straight-stocked AR lowers, maybe.
For an M1 or M1A, almost certainly.

Heck, even putting the $200 into a new barrel or mags for the Mini, probably.


But especially in a state where you don't know from year to year if something would be legal to replace, I'd err on the side of the longevity of a steel receiver.

-K
 
I've heard rumors that C Products will be making hicap Mini-14 mags.

Oh crap, I just saw where you are in CA. Sorry about that.

Aren't low cap Ruger mags reliable?
 
Ruger 5-rounders are reliable.

But I have some grandfathered AR magazines that are, well, a bit bigger than that.:)
 
Aren't higher capacity magazines legal for the mini because it doesn't have a pistol grip and a flash suppressor?
 
I wouldn't. I just got my mini-14 synthetic stainless after shooting a friends and love it.

BTWQ I think mini-14's or 30's are better than ANY AR. more reliable and newer mini's are much more accurate than oldre ones. Serial #580+

I also have an M1A and that covers my NATO calibers just fine, Get a M1A from Springfield or Fulton before an AR, you'll be happy.
 
Aren't higher capacity magazines legal for the mini because it doesn't have a pistol grip and a flash suppressor?
Click to expand...

Only if you already have them. They're illegal to buy, sell or bring into the state. They're legal to own, if you had them before the ban.
 
Armed Bear,

I have a mini 14 SS and really like it. I too was attracted to the SU16. In "Gun Test" Magazine - the Sub2000 they tested was more accurate than the SU16.

But...Let me point you in another direction. I saw a pic recently of a Saiga in 223, and I liked the looks. I ordered one yesterday for $240 DELIVERED. (No poop.) One of the reasons I bought it was it reminded me of the SU16 - but it is not collapsable. (But you can fix that w/ AK furniture.) Just a thought.

ps - Keep the Mini

pps - I've heard some of the metal AK mags can be converted for use on the Saiga's with a little fabrication.

- w
 
A bonus on those Saigas is that you can use the Gali Mag adapter to use the AR mags in it.

also a mini is a good beat it up gun, especially the stainless/polymer combo. I have one that spent 10 years in the bottom of a river and still works.
 
Some people bad mouth the accuracy of the Mini 14. I don't. I recently read a test of the SU in some magazine. The stats showed it was shooting 2" groups. Not bad until you read the fine print, that was 2" at 25 yd. Any Mini 14 can outshoot that with your eyes closed, That's worse than AK accuracy.

Keep your Mini 14.
 
The Kel tec isn't all that expensive so my 1st thought is to have both....more to the point, I have 2 buddies that have bought the SU16 just so they can utilize their AR mags.
If you can swing it, get both! ;)
 
The Kel Tec sells in the $500 range.
If you have to add $200 you must be only getting about $300 for your Mini 14.
That sounds like you are selling your rifle for too low a price.

I owned a Mini 14 and now have a SU16CA.

Personally, I don't like the Mini 14 but if I had one and liked it like you apparently do I would not get rid of it. I especially would not add another $200 to get the SU16CA.
 
The SU-16CA is a tad more, at least here. Remember, it doesn't have to compete with AR's, among other things.

I think I could get $500 for the Mini, but by the time I've paid $600 plus our sales tax and paperwork fees, I'm pushing $700 out the door. And no, I wouldn't want an SU-16 other than the CA model. If I did, I would have bought one a few years back.:)
 
Would you sell a stainless Mini-14 Ranch Rifle and buy an SU? I'll have to throw in $200 myself, when all's said and done. But I'll have grandfathered magazines for it.
Click to expand...

Given the way you're talking (like you really don't want to) and where you're at (PRoC), probably not.

The folding stock is a neat feature,
Click to expand...

I've got a nice folding stock for the Mini (but that's right out for where you live, isn't it).

I've heard rumors that C Products will be making hicap Mini-14 mags.
Click to expand...

Who is C Products? And, lots of companies make full capacity magazines for the Mini. Some of them are even good.
 
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I talked a friend into getting an SU-16 (he already has a mini) and I am sorry I did. It jams often and is so light we find it hard to shoot accurately. I believe it may be more accurate than the mini off the bench, but it is hard to realize its potential in the real world of field shooting.

You can buy factory 20 rounders for the mini at almost any gun show, and the John Mason 10 rounders have worked well in the two minis I have owned.
 
Have you considered building an Off List Lower rifle?

I have a stripped Stag-15 lower and want to build it up using this stock here.. http://www.californiarifles.com/ .. I'm hesistant though because the DOJ hasnt "approved" the stock and they might construe it as a thumbhole stock.

California.. :banghead: :mad: :(
 
$207?!?

Injection molding tooling is expensive, I suppose. I'm just not sure I want to drop that kind of cash if it's not confirmed to be legal...

Did you notice that two of the three rifles illustrated would still violate CA law, though? Flash hiders with a detachable mag are a no-no just like pistol grips.

I've got a couple of OLL's and some Sporting Conversions Maglok kits. I don't have any uppers. I suppose I might buy one; I certainly would spend the money on a good midlength AR upper rather than an SU in addition to the Mini I already have.:)

Sooner or later I'll want to leave CA, or get an additional piece of dirt outside the wire, anyway. Some of this stuff is just a hedge against a future Federal AWB.
 
If you have a gun you really like, it is always a mistake to sell it. This is one of the few universal truths. I guarnatee you will always regret selling the Mini, regardless of whether or not you like the Kel-Tec.
 
I always recomend against selling a gun to buy another
just save some money and buy a su16 when you have saved up
btw the su16 is awesome
 
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